Compact Camera Sony NEX-5TL

Compact Camera Sony NEX-5TL

Compact Camera Sony NEX-5TL

I have not used a DSLR before and was in the market to get a camera that is comparable to SLR. My wife wanted something that is not too big to carry around. My previous camera was a Canon S90, which is good, but I wanted something better than that. Picture quality in NEX 5T is very good, it is easy to handle like a point and shoot. I read some complaints about Sony's confusing menu, but I didn't have any problems with it. The Power zoom lens is good, it gives a point and shoot feeling (good thing). There is barrel distortion at the wide angle. Need a software to correct it. So far I have used only iAuto and iAuto+ settings and the images came out good. I might add a fixed length pancake lens later.

Compact Camera Sony NEX-5TL

If you mount the flash, you may not be able to use the LCD to take self portraits. I didn't try the NFC transfer, probably won't be a big deal for me as I dont have an Android phone. I will post some pictures later (shot mostly with iAuto or iAuto+). I couldn't find the software for Mac in Sony's website. However, the PlayMemories app in my Windows pc works just fine. Also, I couldn't register as the product is not showing in Sony's support website menu yet. 

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Compact Camera Sony NEX-5TL

Fujifilm X-E1 Compact Camera

Fujifilm X-E1 Compact Camera

Fujifilm X-E1 Compact Camera

I have been a fan of Leica M7 with 50 mm Summilux for a decade. I have used a few digital cameras but nothing could replace my M7. My biggest discontent with digital cameras have been white balance and contrast -- no matter which camera I tried, I could never quite get the same perfect white balance and the natural and yet strong and beautiful contrast of film camera photography, especially those of M7 with Summilux. Digital photos almost always had the washed-out colors and weired color bias. I hesitated to invest in M9 because I did not believe, for right or wrong, it could quite deliver what M7 had delivered. Leica had never been known to be a pioneer in digital photography. I also tried the first digital Leica called Digilux some 9 years ago, which was a joke. Convenience means little if the quality is lacking; I would rather have 10 photos that I like than 100 photos that I do not like. So despite the efforts and costs of processing needed for a film camera, I kept on using my Leica M7.

Enter Fuji X-e1. After taking some photos, I blew them on my 60-inch PDP. Perfect. Perfect at ISO 4000. And what a contrast. Wow. As far as I know, this is as close to a film photo feel as a digital photo could get: white balance is impeccable, skin tones perfect, strong contrast, colors that sing, and no grains at ISO 4000! Hallelujah.

Another thing about this camera: JPG files are excellent. I hate keeping RAW files. They are big files taking up so much space and post processing is such a pain to me. With this camera, you can simply forget about shooting in RAW. JPGs are just as nice. Even after reducing the file size to a mere 40 KB for emailing purposes, your photo retains the color and beauty.

The EVF is awesome. Read more*->

Fujifilm X-E1 Compact Camera

Compact Camera Fujifilm X-E1

Compact Camera Fujifilm X-E1

Compact Camera Fujifilm X-E1

So why 3 stars? because I cannot recommend it to most people. I HIGHLY recommend this to experienced photographers.

However the look, the feel, the incredible high ISO performance, all top notch. The focus is just sad compared to other cameras. If you want to buy this for sports, weddings, wildlife or chasing kids around(which is a bad decision due to the lack of telephoto lenses) you will be very disappointed. If you take a slow and deliberate approach to your photography you will be greatly rewarded. This is a camera you work with, not a camera you use, and I really like that aspect personally. But the slow AF, weak AF in low light, and lack of features other cameras have in spades keep it from being a 5 or even a 4. If I were to rate it off the sensor and feel only it would be a 10 out of 5. Optically it is as close to perfect as you will get for less than $3000, and the kit lens is no slouch.

If anyone is looking at this they are also probably looking at the Olympus OMD. I own both of these cameras and want to put up a side by side comparison from my own experience.

Why compare this against the OMD? Because it has set a new benchmark of performance in the world of mirrorless cameras, and even with a smaller sensor it competes well against larger mid range DSLR's. Other options include the NEX 7 and maybe the NEX-6. I have owned and used both the NEX c3 and NEX 5N quite a bit and they are awesome fast high performance compact point and shoot cameras, you sort of have to just trust them, and they do an excellent job but i am a bit of a control freak with my cameras. I found the manual controls lacking, especially compared to the Olympus OMD and Fuji XE-1. 

Read more**->>

Compact Camera Fujifilm X-E1

Lens Kit Panasonic Lumix G

Lens Kit Panasonic Lumix G

Lens Kit Panasonic Lumix G

Ordered this on April 24th from Amazon - got tired of waiting and ended up getting it from Sammy's. I take well over 20,000 shots a year ( I have reached 43,000 on my G3 and its still going) I have had the GX1, G3, G5 and now the G6.

Spent a full day testing it and here are some results:

- Better than the G5 in terms of IQ and sharpness by at least 30 percent and on par with the G3 but much better colors than the latter. The image quality of the G5 was a downgrade from the G3 in my testing over the past year and I tried 3 copies of the G5 and with the 14, 20, 14-42 and 45-150 lenses.

- Better features than the G5 - more filters/WiFi/NFC/time lapse/60p video - Panasonic Image app, etc. etc.

- The LCD is very clear and very accurate just like the G3 (the G5 was horrible in colors on the screen and did not accurately represent what you were taking a picture of).

- Navigation through menus and the Touch Screen are much faster and shot to shot is faster than the G5 and G3.

- Picture Quality is very sharp even in low light (see night shot on back porch).
- The build at first seems a little more plasticky and lighter than both the G3 and G5 but after holding it and using it for a bit and picking it and carrying it around for a day, it seems the right balance - doesn't tire your hands and doesn't seem like it will break easily - oh and the battery compartment is a lot better than both the G3 and G5.

- The 14-42 Kit lens is so much smaller than the previous ones and more solid (metal) - it looks small just like the Olympus ones.

- The video is also better on the G6 than the G5 by 20 percent. Read more

Lens Kit Panasonic Lumix G

18-55mm Lens Sony NEX-7

18-55mm Lens Sony NEX-7

 

Let me start by saying that I have been an avid, but not an expert photographer for 50 years. I carry a camera with me everywhere I go. My recent cameras have included the Nikon D7000, and the Sony Alpha Nex C3 and 5n. But I have had Canon and Panasonic cameras and video cameras I also love.

Anyway, this time, I got my wife the Nex 3c for Christmas because it shares the same 16 mp processor that is in the Nikon D7000. To put an APS-c processor in such an inexpensive camera, I thought, would open the world of natural light photography to my wife with a sensor that's a proven winner in a small, convenient camera with interface designed for point and shoot photographers.

When I got home, my wife had our six month old daughter dressed in a Santa outfit... Break out the camera...Out of the box in five minutes the most incredible, clear, good color gorgeous detailed photos, all in natural light...we were so excited we rushed to print a Christmas card. That simple incident has caused my wife to finally get interested in a camera more rewarding than her Casio Ex Slim.

Reading more, I decided to get myself the 5n. Same processor but with more capabilities and controls. I got many wonderful photos with the kit 18-55 but not as good as my D7000. But then I bought the Sony 18-200 lens for the 5n. The photos and detail with this lens knocked my socks off and was every bit the quality I was getting from the D7000 for which I have an equivalent lens.

It was this experience that made me interested in the 24 mp Nex 7. I read a few reviews of the Nex 7. I read of many features, but mainly stunning image quality. Some commentators think that 24 mp is about the equivalent of the detail you can achieve with a film camera. I was interested. Read more -- >

18-55mm Lens Sony NEX-7

• Pocket camera with professional-grade performance
• 24.3 MP for superb detail and amazing enlargements
• World's first OLED electronic viewfinder; 2359K dots
• Up to 10 fps shooting to capture the decisive moment
• APS-C CMOS sensor for DSLR-class imagin

18-55mm Lens Sony NEX-7

14-42mm Zoom Lens Panasonic DMC-G5KK

14-42mm Zoom Lens Panasonic DMC-G5KK

14-42mm Zoom Lens Panasonic DMC-G5KK

The 20mm pancake shoots amazing pictures with the G5. Landscapes and interiors look great, but portraits are amazing! I was overall quite impressed with photos I took on my vacation, the majority of which I used intelligent auto since I didn't have the time to learn about the camera. I would say I took 90% of my photos using the pancake since it was more convenient and much faster. I only used the zoom lens when I couldn't zoom with my feet. Read more *-›

14-42mm Zoom Lens Panasonic DMC-G5KK

Compact Camera Canon EOS M

Compact Camera Canon EOS M

Compact Camera Canon EOS M

I've been weighing the mirrorless option heavy and finally made the plunge to keep it in the Canon family. I Received this camera and have been playing with it and enjoying it for it's purpose. Let me state this, I own a Canon 5D Mark III as well, so I can only speak on my intentions and reasoning for wanting the Eos-M. I had no intentions of buying this camera as a back up body, nor would this be the camera I would recommend for others who are in the market for one. However, image quality wise, it could be. If you've made the Canon investment in gear, and could use something a little more light weight, sort of pocket friendly, and portable that has the capability to be used with your other canon gear.. It's a no brainer. This camera to me is the Hobbyist/enthusiast Canon gear owners good, to best friend.

The Good: I love the image quality, size, and build quality of the camera and even the 22mm itself is a much better build then expected. It doesn't feel cheap. The touchscreen is pretty good and responsive, if you don't mind a few prints on the screen trying to assist the focusing. Also I love the relief of not carrying my battery gripped 5D around with me for all of the smallest things, and missing something worth capturing because of it. This camera has been a blast, and I've worn it around my neck on several occasions and even the people with me haven't noticed.

The Bad: Slow maneuvering around the menus, as there are limited physical buttons and no turn dial (But this may get faster as you get use to the touchscreen). No built in flash (When this camera is said to target those coming from point and shoot cameras), No view finder (But after a couple of shots.. Read more

Compact Camera Canon EOS M

16-50mm Zoom Sony NEX-6L B

16-50mm Zoom Sony NEX-6L B

16-50mm Zoom Sony NEX-6L B

In 1973 I bought a Rollei 35 - a 35mm camera with a collapsible 40 mm f/3.5 lens. It cost $200, equal to about $1,000 today. It was fully manual - no auto- anything. There was an optical viewfinder but no rangefinder. It took great pictures and fit in a coat pocket. Now we have the Sony NEX-6, only marginally larger than the Rollei, effectively for the same price when you adjust for inflation.

Even though I have a Canon 5D Mark II, a wonderful DSLR, its size and weight are a big deterrent to taking it with me routinely. So I wanted a camera designed in the spirit of the Rollei 35 - to fit in a coat pocket, have a sensor big enough to make 11 x 14 enlargements, have a zoom lens with a 24mm field of view, and a have a built-in viewfinder, not an add-on, and not just an LCD. Until now (11/2012) the options were the Sony NEX-7, upcoming Fuji X-E1 and the larger Olympus OM-D, all at $1300 or more.

I have now taken about 500 shots and the NEX-6 is close to perfect for my purposes - a digital reincarnation of the Rollei 35. But it won't be right for everyone.

The heart of the NEX-6 is an APS-C size sensor, the size in the vast majority of DSLRs. It's 1.5 times the size of a the "4/3rds" sensor found in similar Olympus and Panasonic cameras and 3 times the size of the sensor in Nikon 1 cameras. As a result, the image quality is excellent up to ISO 1600 and not bad up to ISO 6400. A new Sony kit lens gives a field of view equal to 24-75mm on a 35mm camera. The lens focuses quickly and collapses to a small size, so the camera fits in a coat pocket or the corner of a backpack. There are some complaints on Internet forums about the lens vignetting and about distortion at the wide end. Read more

16-50mm Zoom Sony NEX-6L B

Viewfinder Panasonic LUMIX GX7

Viewfinder Panasonic LUMIX GX7

Viewfinder Panasonic LUMIX GX7

First off I have owned tons of M4/3 cameras (G1, GF1, GH1, GH2, G3, E-M5). M4/3 are great cameras which are, in my opinion, the best choice for probably 95% of households looking for a large sensor camera. Now let me start off by saying, if you are a fine arts photographer looking to print big or a commercial photographer looking to impress customers and print big then look elsewhere because these are not the cameras for you. For just about everyone else who is looking for the best all around tool to capture their special moments then m4/3 is it. Read More

Viewfinder Panasonic LUMIX GX7

Availability Olympus OM-D E-M1 Compact System Camera

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Compact System Camera

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Compact System Camera

Note on Availability: Due to high demand we anticipate being unable to fulfill all customer orders with our first allocation. Product supply from Olympus is very limited. Your place in line will be maintained, and we will not charge your credit card until we ship the product.

• With the new 16MP Live MOS Image Sensor with DUAL FAST PHASE AND CONTRAST AF Sensor, the OM-D E-M1 automatically switches between Contrast Detection AF or Phase Detection AF.
• The exclusive Olympus FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) AF System focuses at an astonishing speed and offers 37 separate focus areas in on-chip phase detection mode and 81 areas in contrast detection, spread over the image area.
• The new, interactive high-definition EVF features a 2.36 million dot resolution, an impressive 1.48x magnification, 29ms image display time lag, eye sensor for automatic switching between the EVF and monitor.
• Important Note on Olympus E-M1 availability
  This is a new product with very limited supply from Olympus. We are accepting orders which will be filled in the order they are placed; your place in line will be held until we receive more units. Order today and we will notify you by email with an estimated delivery date when we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we ship the item.
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Olympus OM-D E-M1 Compact System Camera

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

• 3-inch LCD display
• 16MP DSLR-Like Image Quality, Features, and Lens Options
• Built-in Flash, Hotshoe, and Traditional Mode Dial
• Lumix LightSpeed Focusing and PinPoint Focusing Control
• Full HD Vide1080/60i - AVCHD/MP8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

GF1 and GH2 so I'll be comparing with those two cameras. I like the rangefinder-like body but as with using a camera, the photos and image quality comes above all. That's the reason why I use my GH2 more often than the GF1. But now with the GX1, it seems like Panasonic is finally able to put GH2 capability into a GF1 body. That's something I've been looking for.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

The GX1 construction is sturdy. It's a metal body and now comes with a new rubber grip that I like. You get a firmer hold when using heavier lens.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

The GX1 is slightly slimmer than GF1. At 272g, it's 13g lighter than GF1 and 120g lighter than GH2. By the way, the LVF2 is 36g.

Buttons behind are rearranged a bit. I've read a few reviews saying the buttons are cheap and misaligned, but I don't think that's so with my set.

The new flash can now be tilted back for a bounce lighting so that's useful. But the flash films filmsy. I seldom use it even with my GF1 so it's a small issue.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

A conversation with a friend on Sony's Nex 7 started my journey into a full week research on these new mirrorless compact interchangeable lens cameras. My choices went from the Sony Nex 7, Samsung NX200, Olympus EP3, Olympus EPL3, Pentax Q, Fuji X100 (lens not interchangeable), Nikon J1 and the V1.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1